Willie Park Jr

Willie Park JR was the son of four-time Champion Wille Park Snr, winner of the first Open, and nephew of the 1874 Champion Golfer Mungo Park.

Park designed more than 150 courses in Europe, the US and Canada

Did you know?

12

Top 10s at The Open

He was also a successful golf equipment maker and golf writer

Fun fact

Willie Park JR was the son of four-time Champion Wille Park Snr, winner of the first Open, and nephew of the 1874 Champion Golfer Mungo Park.

He was as fine player himself who was fourth three years in a row before winning at Prestwick in 1887 after Willie Campbell, the local professional, took four in a bunker at the 16th.

Two years later Park had a titanic duel with Andrew Kirkaldy. The pair tied on the lowest ever score at Musselburgh, 155, after Park rallied from two behind with three to play before his putt for victory at the last stopped on the lip.

They play-off over another 36 holes with Park winning by five strokes. He was a fine putter, and the saying that a “man who can putt is a match for anyone,” is attributed to him. Though he would be second to Harry Vardon in 1898 and competed in many challenge matches, Park also spent time on other aspects of the game.

As a club designer he popularised the Bulger driver that featured a shortened head with convex face, which helped overcome slice and hook spin for shots hit out of the toe or heel. His Lofter iron was a runaway success, selling 17,000 at seven shillings and sixpence (35p) each.

He became a noted golf course architect, with Sunningdale Old, West Hill and Huntercombe among his gems, as well as many more in Britain, Europe, America and Canada. His book, The Game of Golf, was the first by a professional, and he followed up with a second volume, The Art of Golf.

A contemporary tribute said: “He is held in high esteem for his exemplary conduct and for his rigid adherence to those temperance principles, the neglect of which has brought so many of his brother professionals to grief.”